*7* poetry Monday

Another one from Edward Thomas because I’m still in essay mood and I wouldn’t even know about him if he I hadn’t gone back to college. Also, he writes about places I know personally and I find that fascinating.

Not that I know this village particularly, but you know what I mean.

Adlestrop by Edward Thomas

Yes. I remember Adlestrop—The name, because one afternoonOf heat the express-train drew up thereUnwontedly. It was late June.

The steam hissed. Someone cleared his throat.No one left and no one cameOn the bare platform. What I sawWas Adlestrop—only the name

And willows, willow-herb, and grass,And meadowsweet, and haycocks dry,No whit less still and lonely fairThan the high cloudlets in the sky.

And for that minute a blackbird sangClose by, and round him, mistier,Farther and farther, all the birdsOf Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.